Some people don’t believe in God or the unseen. Many people only believe in who they are naturally and they only put their trust in their intellect, knowing that their success happens because of them. I respect all people, even when we disagree, and have no doubt in our right to believe what we do. I hope for friendship and the respect of my beliefs.

It’s no secret that I’m religious and  greatly believe in the scriptures. My beliefs sustain me and give me much hope and enjoyment of the good things in life, and they give me great ability to withstand the unhappy things in life.

I love Alma’s teachings regarding faith (Alma 32), blessings (Alma 33), and salvation (Alma 34) and have read these chapters several times without event. But today, when reading these chapters, the following verses hit me hard:

Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away.

And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.

And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.

Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you.

For some reason the reality of the law of Moses equaling justice and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ equaling mercy; and that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ stopped the shedding of blood; and that the entire reason for the law of Moses was to point to Jesus Christ (“that great and last sacrifice”); and that mercy satisfied the demands of justice; and that “he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice” sunk deep into my soul and brought to my mind great understanding.

The reason God commands repentance is to encourage faith in His Son so His Son’s sacrifice will atone and remove having to face the harsh reality of justice alone. Never before have I felt such a desire to believe in goodness. The thought of being with my brothers and sisters brings me to tears because I love everyone.